Saint-Nazaire submarine base

The Saint-Nazaire submarine base, known locally as Base sous-marine de Saint-Nazaire, stands as a formidable relic of World War II. Located in the port city of Saint-Nazaire on the French Atlantic coast, this massive structure is a testament to the ingenuity and determination of wartime engineering. Today, it serves not only as a historical monument but also as a vibrant cultural and tourist hub, drawing visitors from around the world.

The Origins and Construction of the Base

Before World War II, Saint-Nazaire was already a significant port on the Atlantic coast of France. However, its transformation into a submarine base began in earnest in June 1940 when German forces occupied the town. The base was constructed to protect German U-boats from Allied air raids, and the first German submarine, U-46, arrived in September 1940. The construction, overseen by the German engineer Probst and carried out by the Organisation Todt, began in February 1941 and continued in several phases until December 1943.

The base was built on the site of the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique's turning basin, and its construction required the demolition of existing docks and buildings. Materials were transported from the La Roche Ballue quarry in Bouguenais to Saint-Nazaire via the river. The base's construction was a colossal effort, involving over 4,600 workers at its peak. The resulting structure is immense, measuring 300 meters in length, 130 meters in width, and 18 meters in height, with a concrete volume of approximately 460,000 cubic meters.

Architectural Features and Defensive Capabilities

The Saint-Nazaire submarine base is a marvel of wartime architecture. Its roof, designed to withstand heavy bombardment, is a layered masterpiece. It consists of four distinct layers: a 3.5-meter-thick layer of reinforced concrete, a 35-centimeter-thick layer of concrete and granite, a 1.7-meter-thick layer of reinforced concrete, and the Fangrost layer, made up of interlocking beams. This formidable roof also features gun emplacements, an observation bell, and a bunker for an automatic mortar.

The base contains 14 submarine pens, numbered 1 to 14 from north to south. Pens 1 to 8 are dry docks, each 92 meters long and 11 meters wide, designed to accommodate a single submarine. Pens 9 to 14 are wet docks, each 62 meters long and 17 meters wide, capable of housing two submarines. The base also includes numerous technical workshops, storage facilities, offices, crew quarters, kitchens, bakeries, power stations, and even a hospital.

The Base During World War II

During the war, the Saint-Nazaire submarine base was home to the 6th and 7th German U-boat flotillas. The 7th Flotilla, initially based in Kiel, began operating from Saint-Nazaire in September 1940, and the 6th Flotilla from Danzig arrived in February 1942. The base became a crucial hub for U-boat operations in the Atlantic, providing maintenance, repairs, and resupply services.

As the Allies advanced in 1944, the 7th Flotilla was transferred to Norway. In September 1944, Hitler declared the base a Festung (fortress), and it remained under German control until the end of the war. The last U-boat to leave Saint-Nazaire was U-255 on May 8, 1945, while U-510 was captured by the Allies and later served in the French Navy as the Bouan.

Post-war Transformation and Modern Use

After the war, the Saint-Nazaire submarine base and its surrounding area were largely abandoned for several decades. In 1994, the city launched the Ville-Port project to revitalize the area. The first phase, Ville-Port 1, saw the development of tourist and cultural facilities within and around the base. Two submarine pens were transformed into a recreated transatlantic liner experience, and housing was built nearby. In 1997, four pens were opened to the port, and the roof was opened to the public, offering stunning views of the Loire estuary, the Saint-Nazaire bridge, and the Atlantic shipyards.

In 2000, Escal'Atlantic, an interpretive center dedicated to the history of transatlantic liners, opened within the base. The second phase, Ville-Port 2, continued the transformation, with the creation of the LiFE (Lieu International des Formes Emergentes) and the VIP (a music venue) in pens 13 and 14. In 2007, a radome from a former NATO radar station in Berlin was installed on the roof, a gift from the German Ministry of Defense.

Today, the base also hosts the Tiers Paysage gardens, designed by landscape architect Gilles Clément, and the National Sea Rescue Society's training center. In 2018, a community hall was inaugurated in pens 12 and 13. The base's wartime history is less prominently featured, but it remains a powerful symbol of resilience and transformation.

Visiting the Saint-Nazaire submarine base offers a unique glimpse into a pivotal period of history and a chance to witness the remarkable adaptation of a wartime relic into a vibrant cultural landmark. Whether you're a history buff, an architecture enthusiast, or simply curious, the base is a must-see destination in Saint-Nazaire.